Monday, June 15, 2015

Life Can Be Both Wave And Particle*



Whew. Now I can finally write a blog post.

As I'm sure anyone who's been reading me for any length of time knows, when something big is brewing, I go into radio silence.

Wait, not necessarily true, sometimes I spill the beans before they're even cooked.

But if I'm not writing about what's happening, I'm not writing.

So last Monday I woke up to a bug, maybe a spider, maybe one of those damn flying ants, on my right breast, and when I went to shoo it away I felt a lump where there never was a lump before.

I poked, I prodded and I fell back to sleep.

When I awoke I went about my normal Monday morning, pulling weeds, feeding plants and letting the cats in and out.

It wasn't until I was dressed and ready to go out for lunch that I remembered my strange "dream".

So I poked and prodded again and found that same lump.

This was no dream.

I called my doctor, his office called me back.

By now I'm in a car with friends on our way to lunch.

I could have a breast exam in 2 hours.

We ate a messy lunch of lettuce wraps at our favorite Vietnamese restaurant then they dropped me off to go a little shopping.

I grabbed an iced latte and headed upstairs to see my gynecologist.

He examined me, wrote me a prescription for a comprehensive screening. This would start with a mammogram and go thru the circuit of ultra sound, MRI and a biopsy if necessary.

He asked if I drank a lot of coffee. When I brandished my latte at him, he suggested there may be a link between heavy caffeine consumption and benign fibroid cysts.

He said he didn't think I had to worry but I did the right thing by coming in immediately.

I made an appointment at the imaging center for Monday the 15th. And then I went about my business.

 Today, same friends, different lunch spot, we ate Thai.
 
They dropped me off and went shopping.

I entered the world of pink. Pink scrubs for the staff, pink tops for the patients. Even the key chain for our lockers was pink. It was aggressively pink.

I had a 3D mammogram, which despite more interesting pictures, hurts just as much.

A radiologist read the results and said all was well, they would send the report to my doctor. I could get dressed and go home.

Other women were told they could get dressed and go see the radiologist.

I felt very lucky. I cried a little as I changed out of the pink and into my white top.

I got an iced green tea with lemonade, my friends picked me up and away we drove.

It's so random, the way your life can change in one split second.

Or not.

xo J

*  Ellen Gilchrist











 
 




36 comments:

  1. Oh my God Jane, I read the word lump and I could hardly read on. I had teary eyes and a lump of my own in my throat. Life is so short and so fragile....you just never know. I am so glad you got sent home, but I'm saying a prayer tonight for the ladies who didn't. xo

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    1. Thanks Sarah, I did the same, prayers that is.

      I met a woman there, 12 year breast cancer survivor who now has tumors on her lungs, so they sent her in for a mammogram. All clear there.

      It's always something, I said to her. She started laughing and repeated my words.

      Gallows humor:-))

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  2. Lovely girl, I'm so glad. I had a very similar experience and had a little cry in the hospital carpark. It leaves you feeling so relieved but a bit light headed and bewildered, as if on shaky ground doesn't it? Maybe a reminder of how precious life is. x

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    1. Exactly. I could cry right now with relief, and for the women who didn't get the same news yesterday, or today or tomorrow.

      We are very lucky. xoxo

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  3. Whew! and whew again. I always feel so 'new' when being dismissed after a routine mammogram. I guess 'reborn' would be the feeling if I'd had a scare like that!
    By the way, have you heard that screening for testicular cancer is going to be just like a mammogram? Ladies, we have our revenge!!!

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    1. Do you think any man will actually get screened.

      And yes, whew!

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    2. OMG, Shelley, that is fabulous! And funny. Finally. My mammo will probably be in July and I too look forward to clear results. But it's always a worrisome time. My reply to Mizz Jane is below.
      Cheers from 5,280 ft
      Diane in Denver

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  4. boy do i know that sigh of relief. so glad you are free and clear. mucho love...saw your comment on alex's IG. love you girl. x

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    1. I always feel that sense of relief but this was my first time with an issue.

      May it be my last.

      How about that new baby xo

      Xo

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  5. Sorry for your scare and SO glad all is well.

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    1. Thank you Lisa, this is my year for living in reality I guess. Reality sucks!

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  6. Oh, terrifying. It makes your heart stop, waiting on that place that could be the line between before and after. My heart skipped a beat for you my dear. And you write it so beautifully with your singular blend of pathos and humor.

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    1. It's a very thin line indeed. But I have belief in my Doctor's air of nonchalance. He wouldn't set me up I thought.

      And he didn't.

      I just sat down and wrote, hit publish, went back later to see if I needed to edit.

      I just wanted to get it out of my head. And maybe remind people how important it is that we get regular screenings and do self exams. Not only while sleeping:-)

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  7. Glad the news was good. I've had breast cysts and have dense breasts. I think you handled it much better than I do!

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    1. I don't think there's a wrong or a right way. We just keep on keeping on. Xo

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  8. Oh my gosh. So happy to see your happy ending. A reminder that it's all so fragile. I'm pausing and appreciating all that is good in my life. Thanks, Jane. Also, I had no idea about the caffeine link. Something to consider. Again, SO happy you are well.

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    1. Thanks Denise, so happy to write my happy ending. A woman I work with has been going through hell and doing it with grace and dignity. The bar is set at 1000 feet in my work community. Glad I don't have to match her style for so many reasons.
      Yes so fragile, we forget that. Xo

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  9. so glad you are ok. Any sense of what constitutes a lot of caffeine?

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    1. I have a latte at home, topped off if time, a grande latte at work in the morning and before one in the afternoon.

      I have now switched to green or black tea with lemonade in the PM. And look forward to it.

      On my days off it's been all day sip and twirl with the espresso. I'm reigning that in too.

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  10. Well that explains the IG picture of the two B@@bs! So good that you went in right away and even better that it was nothing bad! Way to represent and to encourage others. And yes, life can change in a moment. As scare you as that is, it's true.

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    1. We have to stay on top of each other I think.

      I always learn best from my peers.

      xo

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  11. Jane, what a relief. Yours is the news we want to hear. I get yearly mammograms and ultrasounds--then MRIs and biopsies when necessary. So far, so good, but it is always a bit nerve wracking. And sometimes I have to dial down my caffeine intake if the cysts become painful. A small price to pay, thankfully.

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    1. Gosh, no pain here, is it certain to be in my future?

      Awaiting Doctor's response.

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    2. No, Jane, not at all. Everyone is different.

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  12. Words can't say how relieved I am, Mizz Jane. No way! I, too, have those lumps, technically called fibro-cystic disease but was "lucky" enough to find them early on. Had a lumpectomy (oh, ugly word) in '94, cut out all soda/pop
    except caffeine-free and switched to half-caff, usually brewed at home. You can do it, I know you can and you will do it. Gilchrist is one of my favorite writers & I love that book, btw. I have been so worried but hesitated to e-m you. I have some thoughts on this which I will e-send and even a lumpectomy poem, mine ... Believe it or not.
    We all love you, Mizz Jane.
    Peace be with you,
    Diane in you know where

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    1. Don't think any surgery is required here, but am certainly lightening up the caffeine overload!

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  13. Of course, the book's title is Light Can Be Both Wave and Particle but I love what you did with it. So clever, our Jane. Hugs from afar and to all you wonderful women on here,
    Diane in Denver

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  14. Good news! Sounds like you handled the waiting and uncertainty with your normal good humor. Being a girl aint all roses. xoxs

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  15. Yesterday's comment expressing enormous relief was swallowed up by the mystery that is Blogger's sign-in, so I'm going to email you now, out of sheer petulance.

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  16. Phew! Oh, I've done that thing of holding it all together and then having a weep outside in the street once I know that there's nothing to worry about! My, but you are the mistress of suspense - you had me all wound up reading this post. SO GLAD that all is well.

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  17. Geez! I sat down to read this latest entry and had a huge lump in my throat--reading as fast as I could to see how you are! So scary. This may be somewhat un-PC to say, but sometimes even the pink makes me shudder a little. I am happy for your news. Very happy for you. :)

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  18. I am so glad all is well. I have had that no coffee or chocolate talk as well. I cut back, but go with everything in moderation. Hugs!

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